Newell apologises for outburst

Luton boss Mike Newell has apologised for his outburst against women officials in professional football.

Newell claimed after Saturday's home defeat by QPR that assistant referee Amy Rayner should not have been allowed to run the line in a Coca-Cola Championship match.

But the 41-year-old on Monday admitted his comments were "out of order" and revealed he has attempted to speak to Rayner to apologise in person. Newell told Sky Sports News: "I want to apologise publicly to Amy Rayner and to anyone else I have offended."

He added: "The comments I made were ill-timed and out of order. I wanted to apologise privately before I apologised publicly, but I could not get hold of Amy Rayner.

"I have not spoken to her, but I have left messages and I will continue to try to speak to her."

Newell's contrition might not be sufficient to save his job after Luton called an emergency board meeting for Monday afternoon, where his future is expected to be on the agenda.

Newell claimed the club had gone backwards since chairman Bill Tomlins took over in 2004, but would not retract those comments.

Asked whether he regretted those remarks, Newell said: "I very rarely say things I do not mean.

"I have not spoken to the chairman. They have called a meeting, and I am sure I will learn the outcome.

"Will I be the manager at the weekend? That is a question for the board, but I am not going to resign."